An Open Letter to Britney Spears
September 11, 2007
Dear Brit Brit,
May I call you that? I mean, thanks to the advancement of technology, I have seen more of you than I think you meant me to. At least, that’s what I like to tell myself; that you really didn’t mean to show the known universe your girly bits. So, since I’ve seen your va-jay-jay in all it’s glory, I think we can call each other by our nicknames. Mine’s Shash, by the way. Nice to meet you.
Allow me to broach the subject of the VMA awards, if I may. Brit, this was supposed to be your big comeback, and since we’re practically family I can be honest and tell you that it wasn’t your finest moment. Sweetie, what the hell happened? The hype was HUGE, and you bought into it and allowed everyone to think you had this spectacular performance in the works. EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE was rooting for you. Even your detractors, probably. Sadly, you didn’t deliver, and most importantly, it looked like you didn’t even care. I think the hardest thing about watching all the news shows discuss your performance (or lack thereof) is the realization that the people reporting and discussing it actually don’t want to have to do it. No one wants to report this story because we all had high hopes for you, Brit. And you let us down.
Seriously.
I think we can all admit to mistakes we have made in our youth; marriages we shouldn’t have entered into so young (raises own hand), bad career choices (again with the hand raising), days when our parenting skills veered dangerously off the path that is good (raises hand slightly), and days when we kind of lost our minds just a tiny wee bit. (waves hand around)
Brit, we’ve all been there, done that. It happens. Mistakes are made. You live, you learn. Blah, blah, blah. Life goes on, and you grow up. Even if you’re hounded by cameras, or even if you are not, we ALL make mistakes. The object is, at some point, you learn from them. The mistakes, I mean.
The point here is that I think the sounds you are hearing from the universe at large is that we’re worried about you, Brit. VERY worried. At some point, when life hands you a shame spiral cone with sprinkles on it you realize that changes need to be made. Last night’s appearance at the VMA’s reminded everyone that you are a long way from learning from your mistakes.
I could sit here and tell you that your outfit you wore on stage was about 3 years too late for you; that probably every woman watching you last night that has given birth to children sympathized with the limits of your current body (raises hand high into the air). You’re a beautiful girl, of that there is no doubt, but even the most beautiful girl needs to strategize what to show after having a baby (or two). The girls (your boobs) at one point looked as if they wanted to run off the stage before you did. That’s not a good sign, Brit. Well, unless that was the plan, but I don’t think so…I hope it wasn’t intentional. Because? Yikes.
Maybe it’s time to re-open the pathway back to your family, Brit. Maybe some time out of the spotlight, away from the parties and the dancing and the clubbing will do you good. Some nights in, playing games with good friends and family, away from prying eyes. Might I suggest picking up a copy of Dance Dance Revolution for those nights you’ve “gotta dance”. It’s one of my favorites. Nothing brings a family closer together faster than a competitive game or ten. A family favorite here at Casa de CrazedMommy is Phase 10. Just trying to help. In that same vein? Keep the backup dancers off the guest list. You know, for obvious reasons.
Brit, I feel the need to point out that many of the people who worked for you while your mother handled your career have remained mostly mum about you. The newer help? Not so much. It might be worth your while to consider rekindling those older relationships. You need a few extra hands to help you out. And you know what? That’s okay. There are many of us that would like to have a few extra sets of hands helping us out with the daily drudgery that makes up a person’s life. If an extra set of hands could show up at my house each day and develop, shop, prep and cook meals each day in my house; well, that would be a little slice of Heaven, let me tell you!
I think that many people who care about you, and many people who don’t think as highly of you as some others would not mind at all if you took a step back and reassessed just exactly you want to do with the rest of your life. But, Brit? What you are doing right now isn’t working. It really isn’t.
But here’s the thing, – if you don’t want to perform anymore then don’t. If there is something else you want to do that you thing you’d be good at, give it a go. But take some time to figure it all out. No one would fault you for doing that. As you can see there are people who will wait for whatever decision you come up with. What you need to realize is that those people care about you. They want you to succeed. Sure, there will ALWAYS be people who will want to see you fall, and gladly photograph you as you do just that. Don’t worry about them. Do whatever makes you happy. But own it, and want it. Don’t keep doing this half-assed thing you’ve been doing for awhile now. It’s not fooling anyone, except maybe you, and that’s not the one to fool.
Please, Brit. From someone who is not an uber-fan, but sees what you are doing and as a mom it hurts her to see you self-destruct like this when it is so unnecessary; take a breather. Enjoy those boys. Soon enough they will be grown and it might be better for them if the memories they have of the times they shared with you were a bit more private. Mend those fences, if you can. Some of us don’t have that luxury, and it is exactly that.
Most of all? Be happy. Really, really happy. With you, with your kids, with life. Everything else will fall into place. I swear.
Take care, Brit.
Most Sincerely,
Shash
September 11th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Good advice. I just watched it and I thought she either looked a little high or scared to be in those boots…in either case, her mind didn’t seem to be on the performance.
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September 12th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
I don’t think you gave good advice. I think you are doing what every other person is doing out there; making fun of a poor woman who needs help. In between your moments of “motherly advice” you chop her to bits. Nice mothering, mommy blogger.
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September 12th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Thanks, JB!!!
If anything, I’m chopping myself to bits to show her that we ALL make mistakes. Even THIS Mommy Blogger. I didn’t say anything to her that she didn’t already know herself, and more to the point, sometimes a bit of tough love and pointing out things that need to be said might help. Yes, I AM a mom, and I do blog, and I felt the need to say these things to her in an open letter on MY blog. Neat how that works, huh?
Commiserating can be a wonderful thing.
Truthfully, JB? I’m disappointed in what she’s doing with her life. I’m by no means her biggest fan, but as a fellow mom, I’m worried about her and I hope she gets to a better place. Soon. Will she read my letter? Probably not, but *I* feel better for posting this, and if she does do something to better herself then, yay!!!
But thanks for your input. Much appreciated, and not surprisingly unexpected. Go figure.
Shash
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September 12th, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Sorry, I went a little ballistic and took it out of you. I just feel that this poor woman needs help and I wish people would give her comfort instead of relishing in her demise.
BTW – I wished my body looked at good as hers in the bikini. I would be doing backflips.
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September 13th, 2007 at 1:21 am
JB,
I agree, she desperately needs help, and I genuinely hope she finds it. I also feel that not as many people are relishing in her demise as one might think. I genuinely think that people are sad the “performance” was so bad, and really wanted to see her succeed. I also feel that people STILL want to see her succeed, and that is her saving grace as far as her future career might be. But the bottom line is that she does need help, and she’s not acting ready to get it yet. Hopefully that will change, before it truly is too late.
As for her bikini, all of us who have had children have that “mommy pooch” and she was definitely representin’ on that stage. For my comeback, I might have not chosen such an outfit, and I wanted her to know that it wasn’t a great choice. Sometimes less is more, and this was one of those times. My honest opinion.
No problems, JB! I enjoy a lively discussion!
Shash
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September 13th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Dayum. I liked your letter. I guess that makes me a bad mommy. I thought your advice was pretty darn good.
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September 15th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
Such an articulate, well-thought out piece. I know that if Britney were to read this, it would probably be the first solid advice she’s had in a very long while.
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September 19th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Well, I totally agree with this entry. I love the letter. The poor girl needs to get her life together.. for her children. They’re the ones suffering. All the best of luck to her.
Laura
http://itsoundslucrative.blogspot.com
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September 23rd, 2007 at 3:54 am
I’m not really a fan of hers either, but this downward spiral is really, really hard to watch.
It’s just so sad, really.
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